Picture by Rashbehari Das; Make-up: Aniruddha Chakladar and Somnath; Styling: Rajarshi Mukherjee; Location: The Park

Director Raj Chakraborty tells t2 how he has rediscovered himself with the action film Challenge (produced by Shree Venkatesh Films), which hits the theatres on Friday...

Why have you taken up a hardcore action film like Challenge after the romantic hit Chirodini... Tumi Je Aamar?

With Challenge, my second film, I wanted to prove my versatility. I knew that people would expect me to make only tragic love stories as Chirodini was a box-office hit. That’s why Challenge is far more challenging. I can tell emotional, realistic stories like Chirodini, but that I can do a masala film differently was a huge challenge for me. I need to prove that I can do all kinds of films. Besides, after Chirodini I wanted to make a film that would trigger ceetis and taalis. I would always wonder why the audience goes wild over Hrithik Roshan’s moves and Abhishek Bachchan’s attitude. That’s what I wanted to capture in Challenge.

What is Challenge about?

It’s about a hero becoming a superhero. Challenge has everything a commercial film needs to have — action, romance, comedy, tears. And yet it’s different. It’s more about attitude and style. It has lavish sets, exotic Dubai and sexy costumes.

Why did you cast Dev and Subhashree?

I always wanted to work with Dev. I wanted his kind of personality, which matches the character he plays in the film. Besides, the audience has never seen Dev the way he is in Challenge. I have used him like a newcomer. He has lost weight, his clothes are completely different from what he has worn in his other films. He is a complete hero.... Subhashree had wanted to work with me. I am very happy with her. She is a very passionate actress.

Challenge looks very different...

I made sure that the treatment is different. The camera technique and the angles are very different. There are lots of on-spot slo-mo shots, something that’s usually done during post-production. Each frame looks like an ad film. It’s a very polished look, not paati like most of our films. The songs have been shot with a Super 35 camera. The editing follows a different pace. Plus, Dev and Subhashree look different.

Are the action scenes better than what we usually see in Tolly films?

Don’t expect realistic action in Challenge. You won’t find anything realistic about the film. But yes, I don’t have the hero flying while fighting, neither does he jump off a 40-storey building unhurt. The action is more about attitude — Dev’s angry look and body language is enough to scare the goons. I have not shown too much physical fight.

How has life changed after the success of your debut film Chirodini?

Life hasn’t changed much. I still have the same old car (laughs). But yes, I am getting a lot of offers from TV. There are offers to do Chirodini type of films as well and I am staying away from both. There are offers from Bollywood too. I will do Bollywood films but I want to prove myself in Tollywood first. My responsibility as a director has increased. People trust me and depend on me more now.

HE’S HOT, SHE’S SEXY

Your role...

Dev : I am Abir, a college-goer with loads of attitude.

Subhashree : I am Pooja, a rich girl who falls for the middle-class Abir.

Your new look...

Dev : I want to come out of my three-film-old image with Challenge. I want people to go ‘wow’ when I appear on screen. I am a foodie but I started dieting three months before shooting. I lost 6kg and then I worked out in the gym.

Subhashree : I wasn’t losing weight even after gymming. So I quit and went to dietician Reshmi Roy Chowdhury, who gave me a proper diet for a lean look. I lost 6kg in a month!

Your best scene in Challenge...

Dev : I am especially fond of the pre-interval scene where Ronyda (Rajatava Dutta) and I come together on screen for the first time. I was a bit nervous as he is such a powerful actor. It’s also a vital scene as the story takes a turn from there.

Subhashree : I love the rain scene where I had to get wet! It wasn’t artificial rain and that’s the first scene in the film where I hug Dev. That’s my best scene.

Dev on Subhashree :

Subhashree’s casting was finalised at the eleventh hour and I didn’t expect her to be so good. She is superb in the film! She is hot and she is confident. She is mostly in mini skirts in the songs and the way she has carried herself is amazing. She’s looking very, very sexy!

Subhashree on Dev :

Dev is looking hot, arrogant and sexy, yet sweet! We have a great chemistry and I hope people like us. We are good friends but we fight a lot and I hope it comes through on screen as well.